Extended from 24 to 30 metres, Ursus now features numerous innovations aimed at improving both comfort and performance for the owners and guests
The journey began in 2022 when the yacht’s owner approached Balk Shipyard with a clear request: to preserve the charm of the yacht’s interior while extending the yacht for additional space, including a beach club, an extra crew area and upgraded propulsion systems. Although the owner had initial drawings to extend the yacht, he asked for advice on how to proceed with this rebuild.
Together, the team decided to start from scratch, laying the groundwork for a detailed and challenging project.
Naval architect and yacht designer Mulder Design was consulted for the project, providing expertise in redesigning the yacht. They introduced innovative features, including a redesigned beach club and a seating area made possible by extending the stern.”Our focus on the exterior was to blend the modifications with the original design characteristics,” says Bas Mulder, owner of Mulder Design. “All to keep a cohered yacht.” The new hull extensions have been optimised by the use of CFD (Computional Fluid Dynamics) calculations to reduce the resistance and improve seakeeping capabilities. According to Bas Mulder, “the collaboration between Balk Shipyard and Mulder Design was good, with short lines of communications and an integrated team:’
After completing the design and engineering, URSUS underwent a comprehensive 18-month rebuild at Balk Shipyard. The bow and stern were removed and replaced, adding extra space at both ends. The tender garage was relocated, creating a new seating area in the bow, while a twin anchor system and an additional crew cabin were integrated.
The yacht also received advanced technical upgrades to ensure optimal performance, including the addition of new diesel-electric pods. A seawater cooling system was installed to maintain ideal conditions in the technical spaces, and the yacht was equipped with new Veth Azimut drives from TwinDisc. While the Volvo Penta D9 main engines and Stamford 22DkW generators were retained, the extended hull required an adjusted setup to maximise power. Additional enhancements include a Veth bow thruster, Furuno navigation systems, a dynamic positioning (DP) system, and wing stations for precise handling.
Reflecting on the project, Evan Kortmann, CEO of Balk Shipyard stated, “This was one of the most complex rebuilds we’ve undertaken, but our dedicated team embraced the challenge. Collaborating with Mulder Design, we brought an innovative concept to life. The close cooperation with the owner and his representative was key, allowing us to maintain personal contact and short communication lines throughout.”
